Talkmobile vs Vodafone: what's different and the same?

✔ Conventional 5G/4G/2G signal is the same between them

Talkmobile have been owned by Vodafone since 2015, so use their network. People always wonder if signal is worse on virtual operators. So we’ve tested a Talkmobile SIM side by side with a Vodafone one to find out.

We found call signal identical. 4G data is the same. It’s only 5G where there can be some limited differences. Talkmobile access Vodafone’s regular full-speed 5G data everywhere it’s offered.

Compare current Vodafone vs Talkmobile SIM only deals

It’s only the latest 5G Ultra coverage that differs. This is active on select Vodafone plans but not on Talkmobile. The technology is largely about marketing but does release better 5G coverage in certain locations.

The vast majority with a Vodafone or a Talkmobile SIM will experience no differences. 5G Ultra is some thin icing on the cake with Vodafone. Most people will bank the price difference and never think about it again.

Useful link: The best networks for 5G

✔ Our tests found identical speeds between them

You might have some worries in the back of your mind that if you join a cheaper network like Talkmobile then you’ll get inferior speeds. We tested both networks in real life to put these worries to bed.

In real life, we got the same speeds on Talkmobile and Vodafone. We went as low as 5 Mbps in rural areas and as high as 110+ Mbps over 4G+ in the city centre on both. More often we sat at a steady 30 - 48 Mbps.

Best SIM only plans currently on Talkmobile and Vodafone

That lines up nicely with Opensignal’s latest report putting typical speeds at 31.1 Mbps on Vodafone. Speeds do vary a lot by location on these two providers, but you’ll generally get healthy 4G speeds most of the time.

Opensignal measured typical 5G speeds of 138.7 Mbps while Speedtest got typical speeds of 159.02 Mbps with blistering peaks of 370.38 Mbps. Speeds are identical on both, putting them both in second place for 5G.

Useful link: Vodafone’s speed capped unlimited plans

✔ Vodafone have better WiFi calling and eSIM

You get WiFi calling and VoLTE features on both Talkmobile and Vodafone. These are now essential, given the ongoing phaseout of conventional call signal on both. They also boost indoor calls coverage.

Functionality-wise, we found the feature worked the same on both. We successfully moved from WiFi to 4G mid-call without it dropping. We would say Talkmobile currently support fewer Android phones though. iPhone is fine.

Best current SIM only deals on Talkmobile and Vodafone

There are some extra network features you get on Vodafone but not on Talkmobile. You can get an eSIM on Vodafone and their sub-brand VOXI. eSIM isn’t available on Talkmobile.

The same is true for the handy visual voicemail feature on iPhone. It works on Vodafone and their low-cost brand VOXI. But not Talkmobile yet.

Useful link: Read our full Talkmobile review

✔ EU roaming comes as standard on Talkmobile but not Vodafone

Between the two providers, only Talkmobile offer inclusive EU roaming as standard. They let you roam in these 41 EU countries at no added cost which is a big advantage. While there you can use up to 5GB of your data allowance.

Best EU roaming deals on Talkmobile

That’s more than most people will ever use on a short trip, so there shouldn’t be too much worry about going over your allowance. But if you do you can take a Euro Holiday Booster to tide you over till you get back.

On Vodafone you either have to pay £2 a day to roam in the EU on their regular plans, or take one of their “Xtra Euro Roam” or “Global Roam” premium plans. Either way you’re paying an extra cost to roam in the EU.

Vodafone SIMs with inclusive roaming

But Vodafone may be better for going beyond the EU, as they include roaming in 83 worldwide destinations. Talkmobile do offer global roaming passes, but these are quite high in price. Still, Talkmobile win overall.

Useful link: Talkmobile’s roaming guide

✔ Vodafone have a handful of nice unique benefits

If you’re big into websites like Groupon and other voucher websites, Vodafone’s VeryMe Rewards might appeal. It works via Vodafone’s app and sends you personalised offers on retail and services.

It’s similar to O2’s Priority app, but doesn’t get you quite as much. You get some nice freebies which will give you a bit better value on your deal. Talkmobile have nothing like it (but don’t really need it either).

Vodafone also offer a range of Entertainment plans that come with an entertainment subscription of your choice for a higher monthly cost. You can choose a subscription to either YouTube Premium or Amazon Prime.

Vodafone’s current Entertainment plans

Just bear in mind these usually cost about £5 - £6 more than the same plan without the subscription, so you might actually only be saving a pound or two depending on the price of the subscription.

Useful link: More about Vodafone's Entertainment plans

✔ No credit checks to pass for joining Talkmobile

Typically when you take a SIM only contract on most networks they’ll check your credit history to see if you’ve missed any payments in the past. They do this to make sure you’re likely to pay your bill reliably.

You won’t need to pass a credit check to join Talkmobile unlike on Vodafone (unless you take a PAYG bundle). You only have to put in a few personal details for an ID check just so they know who you are.

That makes them an excellent alternative if you’ve been rejected for a Vodafone SIM only plan, and you can even build your credit score if you keep paying your bill on time. That can help you join a phone deal later.

Best no credit check SIM only plans on Talkmobile

Talkmobile also have some of the most flexible caps on extra spending around, letting you set a limit between £0 and £100 in £1 increments. That’s better for avoiding overspending than Vodafone’s £10 increments.

Useful link: Read our full Talkmobile review

✔ Talkmobile have better customer service and more benefits

Talkmobile are quite unique in that they’re a smaller network with over-the-phone customer service. So you can actually talk to a “real person” to get help rather than being stuck talking to a bot.

They also have an online chat if you’d prefer. Either way we’ve found them to be quick and efficient when resolving issues. Vodafone’s customer service isn’t bad, but we found it harder to talk to a real person.

It’s one of those situations where smaller is better. Vodafone have millions of customers to deal with. Talkmobile have relatively few, so find it easier to sort out their problems.

Finally, Talkmobile charge a lot less if you go over your data allowance. You can get 2GB for £4 on Talkmobile, while Vodafone charge an absurd £7.35 for 1GB. That’s on top of Talkmobile being cheaper already.

Useful link: How to get in contact with Vodafone

✔ Resellers are the best way to get a good value phone deal

Between the two, only Vodafone let you join directly on a phone contract. They offer “split contracts” where you get a credit agreement (basically a loan) for your phone and your usage plan (mins, texts, data) separately.

This lets you pay lump sums to reduce your monthly bill or pay off your phone to upgrade early whenever. The downside is that these can be very expensive and hard to join unless you have very good credit.

That’s where resellers like Fonehouse come in. With them you can join on a Talkmobile or a Vodafone phone contract right away at much lower costs than joining directly.

You don’t get the flexibility of a split contract, instead you’ll get a regular 24-month contract. But we think the lower costs will be worth it for most people. So we think resellers are really the way to go here.

Useful link: Compare all phone contracts